Rafael Benitez has warned Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard he cannot expect to get his own way by claiming a central midfield berth for the Reds.

Although Gerrard has made it clear he would prefer to be in the heart of the Liverpool midfield, so far this season Benitez has played him on the right, and then on the left, where he appeared against Chelsea on Sunday.

With Xabi Alonso and Mohamed Sissoko forging an impressive partnership in the Liverpool engine room and Jermaine Pennant supplying pace down the right, Gerrard may be stuck out wide again tonight when Newcastle visit Anfield in the Barclays Premiership.

But Benitez has pointed to the examples of Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldinho as evidence Gerrard is not the only talented player to be asked to sacrifice himself for the good of the team.

"Steven is happier playing in the middle and we know that but I cannot put Xabi or Momo on the wing," observed Benitez.

"If they are playing well, we know Steven has a lot of quality and we can use him in another position, on the right, the left or behind the main striker, that will benefit the team.

"Zinedine Zidane played on the left many times even though he preferred to play just behind the strikers and Ronaldinho plays on the right, even though he would prefer to be behind the strikers too.

"That's how it is with good players. They can play in any position. Steven is our captain and he knows that."

With no fresh injuries from the unlucky defeat at Stamford Bridge, Benitez is pondering whether to field an unchanged team for the first time in 92 games.

No matter what side he chooses though, the Spaniard will be desperate to pick up three points after a poor start which has seen Liverpool slump to 15th."